Staunton Spectator, And General Advertiser

FROM THE LEXINGTON GAZETTE.

'Double Shotted'—'Siamese' Ticket!

There is probably on record no more glaring instance of hardihood, and (we scarcely know what language to employ) than is presented by the editorial course of old Mr. Ritchie and his 'tail,' in reference to the Union Anti-Van Buren ticket. From the moment the idea of an union of the friends of White and Harrison, in Virginia, was suggested, the old gentleman has been most industriously denouncing the scheme, as some horrid plot, which was to cheat the people of their rights, and to destroy the value of the elective franchise. He has called the union ticket all manner of hard names, but the favorite epithets are those at the head of this article.

Let us see what are the grounds of this denunciation. He says that it is making our very division—our very weakness, a source of strength, and that whilst Van Buren is stronger than either of our candidates separately, the two combined will probably overpower him. This he says is wrong. How is it wrong? Is it unprecedented? Let the Enquirer say whether the friends of Gen. Jackson did not use the very same expedient in North Carolina and other States in 1824: But we need not go so far back. What is the attitude which Mr. Ritchie's party occupy at this very time, before the people of the United States? Are they not adopting the very same expedient to secure the election of their ticket? How does it happen that Judge Smith is run as Vice President in Virginia, on the Van Buren ticket, and in no other, or but one other State? Will the Enquirer pretend that the party has any idea of electing Judge Smith? Certainly not. Why then is his name used? Is it not to throw dust into the eyes of the people—to deceive them by a false pretence? Is it not done to prevent the high-minded people of Va., that people who would scorn to vote for R M. Johnson, from being driven from the ranks of the party by the nomination of Johnson? -Is not this a mere trick?-does not Mr. Ritchie know that if Van Buren is elected President, that Johnson will be Vice President? And does not Mr. Ritchie know, that if that were made plain to the eyes of the people of Virginia, that hundreds would leave their party and give up Van Buren, rather than take Johnson with him? And is not Smith run for the express purpose of preventing the people of Virginia from perceiving what is the true state of the case? And yet Mr. Ritchie—the very wire-worker of this fraud upon the people,—cries out 'trick.'

But let us not be deceived by words. Let us see where is the 'trick' in the union of the friends of Harrison & White? Is there any covert or concealed purpose in it: Is there any thing about it calculated to deceive any one? The very essence of fraud and trick is concealment. Now where is the concealment? Is one purpose avowed when another is intended? If there is, it is a fraud. But we defy Mr. Ritchie to point out any thing of the kind. Can he say as much of his plan of running Judge Smith? Is he not then tricking or defrauding the people? Is he not holding out the idea to the voters that they are running Smith, when he knows that by voting that ticket they are electing Johnson? Ah! Mr. Ritchie! Mr. Ritchie!! your trick never move repeat there is no fraud of concealment about it. All is ingenuous, fair and open—our purpose is avowed in the address of the Staunton Convention, to be the union of all the elements of opposition to Van Buren, and we have no other. The means by which that purpose is to be carried into effect are plainly set forth—all who approve the object and the means are invited to co-operate—all who are not in favour of it, see at once how to render their opposition effectual

Our plan is based upon the idea that a large majority of the people of Virginia are opposed to Van Buren. That opposition was however divided as to the candidate to be run against Van Buren—one division preferred White—another Harrison; and thus a mere plurality, the friends of Van Buren, were likely to carry the State against the known wishes of a majority of the people. The Staunton Convention however has defeated this much cherished hope of Mr. Ritchie, by consolidating the opposition upon one ticket. This is the reason Mr. Ritchie dislikes the union ticket so much—Hine illae lachrymae. He feels that it is the death blow of Van Buren's hopes in Virginia Why should Mr. Ritchie object to our plan for any other reason? Surely he is too good a republican to deny the very fundamental principle of the republican doctrine, that the majority should govern? And if he admits this doctrine his objections to the union ticket must fall to the ground, for the very object of that union is to prevent the minority from governing the majority For the sake of illustration, we will suppose a case—Let us suppose that Virginia has 40,000 votes, of these 13,000 are for White, 13,000 for Harrison, and 14,000 for Van Buren. Let us suppose, as we know the fact to be, that the friends of White prefer Harrison to Van Buren, and on the other hand, the friends of Harrison prefer White to Van Buren -The election comes on, and there is no union of these two parties, what would be the consequence? Is it not obvious that Van Buren would receive the vote of Virginia when there was a dead majority of 12,000 against him. But suppose the union had taken place, how would matters stand then? Instead of the small minority ruling the majority, the state of things would be exactly reversed, and the 26,000 votes would give law to the 14,000. So will it be at the next presidential election -Mr Ritchie feels it. Don't you, Mr. Ritchie? and is not that the reason why you dread the union ticket? Answer this view of the subject if you can, and show how you can oppose our plan consistently with your republican professions.